ArchitecturePlus International

What ArchitecturePlus International does

ArchitecturePlus International, operating under the brand api(+), is a Tampa, Florida-based multidisciplinary design studio founded in 1993. The firm provides an integrated suite of design and architecture services covering architecture, interior design, branding, graphics, placemaking, wayfinding, master planning, and construction administration. Its practice is centered on consumer-facing retail, grocery, restaurant, hospitality, mixed-use real estate, and municipal environments, with a recurring emphasis on prototype design and multi-site rollout for national and international brands. The client roster spans large enterprises — Walmart, Darden Restaurants, Ahold Delhaize, Publix, Regency Centers, Bloomin' Brands, HMS Host, Universal Studios, WS Development, Mattamy Homes, Minto Communities, Earl Enterprises — alongside mid-market independents and government entities such as the City of St. Petersburg, City of Jacksonville, and City of Maryville, Tennessee. Project footprint extends across the United States and internationally to Canada, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, and China.

The firm operates as a project-based professional services studio with no proprietary technology platform. Revenue is generated through billable design commissions determined by project scope, with project initiation handled through a website questionnaire or direct email contact; no pricing is publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by industry reputation, repeat-client referrals, industry organization participation (ICSC, SEGD, RDI, AIA, ULI, FMI, USGBC), and an award-recognition strategy spanning ULI Global Awards for Excellence, Prix Versailles, Shop! Design Awards, NAIOP Best of the Best, ICSC, and Progressive Grocer awards. Marketing channels include a comprehensive portfolio website, active social presence (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest), newsletter, and industry events. Leadership is led by President + CEO Juan Romero (AIA, NCARB), VP + Director of Operations Rachel Marshall (AIA, NCARB, MLA), and VP + Director of Visual Design John Scheffel, supported by a 11-50 person multidisciplinary team of architects, interior designers, graphic designers, and brand strategists. The firm is privately held with no disclosed funding, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

ArchitecturePlus International

Legal name

ArchitecturePlus International

Website

https://apiplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ArchitecturePlus International (api(+)) is a Tampa, Florida-based multidisciplinary design firm providing architecture, interior design, branding, graphics, wayfinding, placemaking, and master planning services to enterprise and mid-market clients in retail, grocery, restaurant, real estate development, and municipal sectors across the U.S. and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Retail store design
• Interior design studio
• Brand strategy services
• Wayfinding design

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Design and Architecture Professional Services: api(+) generates revenue through billable design and architecture engagements including brand strategy, interior design, graphic design, signage, architecture, master planning, placemaking, and wayfinding services. Revenue is project-based, derived from client commissions for retail environments, restaurant concepts, grocery stores, mixed-use centers, and municipal wayfinding programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ArchitecturePlus International (api(+)) is a multidisciplinary design firm providing architecture, interior design, branding, graphics, placemaking, wayfinding, master planning, and construction administration services for retail environments, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitality venues, retail centers, mixed-use developments, and municipal wayfinding programs. The firm integrates brand strategy, interior design, graphic design, and architecture under one studio to create cohesive consumer-brand-place environments for enterprise and mid-market clients.

Product overview

ArchitecturePlus International (api(+)) is a multidisciplinary design firm offering a comprehensive suite of design and architecture services. The company's service portfolio includes Architecture Services, Interior Design, Branding Services, Graphics Services, Placemaking, Wayfinding, Master Planning, and Construction Administration. api(+) specializes in creating consumer-centric design solutions for retail environments, grocery stores, restaurants, retail centers, amenities, hospitality venues, and mixed-use developments. The firm works with leading retailers, restauranteurs, municipalities, and developers ranging from local to global organizations. Their approach combines branding, interiors, and architecture into cohesive, experience-driven environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Architectural design solutions for retail environments, restaurants, grocery stores, and mixed-use developments, including prototype development, programming, feasibility studies, construction documentation, and construction administration. Target buyers include enterprise retailers, restaurant groups, real estate developers, and municipal clients.
• Interior Design Concept development, space planning, finishes and materials selection, fixture and furniture design, custom millwork, visual merchandising, and lighting design for retail and hospitality environments. Target buyers include enterprise retail chains, restaurant operators, grocery chains, and hospitality brands.
• Branding Services Brand audit and assessment, competitive analysis, brand strategy, brand positioning, strategic imaging, design criteria, and brand style guidelines to differentiate companies from startups to Fortune 500s. Target buyers include enterprise retailers, restaurant groups, real estate developers, and consumer brands seeking differentiated brand expression.
• Graphics Services Brand identity and logo design, brand communications, environmental graphics, wayfinding, placemaking, marketing collateral, and packaging for consumer-centric environments. Target buyers include enterprise retailers, restaurant groups, and consumer brands.
• Placemaking Creating information programs that guide people and enhance their understanding and experience of places, including research, place personality development, consensus building, implementation, and maintenance manuals. Target buyers include municipal governments, retail developers, master planned community developers, and mixed-use property owners.
• Wayfinding

Quantifiable outcome

• Sawmill Market surpassing all economic projections at full occupancy and stability
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers45 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Eric Haskins, AIAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerServed as Executive Architect on the Sawmill Market Food Hall project in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WD Partners: WD Partners is a Columbus, Ohio-based retail design and strategy firm focused on grocery, restaurant, and convenience-store prototypes and rollouts — directly comparable to api(+)'s core retail/food-retail design practice with similar enterprise client base.
• Shook Kelley: Shook Kelley is a Charlotte-based brand environment and retail design firm combining strategy, branding, and design for retail and restaurant clients — comparable to api(+) in integrated retail branding and environment design.
• Bergmeyer: Bergmeyer is a Boston-based design firm offering architecture, interior design, and brand strategy with strong retail, restaurant, and hospitality practices — closely overlapping api(+)'s service mix and target client segments.
• Big Red Rooster (JLL): Big Red Rooster is a retail experience design firm, now part of JLL, with strong grocery, restaurant, and convenience-store expertise — a direct peer in retail-focused strategy, branding, and design engagements.
• Chute Gerdeman (GHD): Chute Gerdeman is a retail experience design firm specializing in grocery, restaurant, and retail brand environments with multidisciplinary branding, interior, and architecture capabilities — a direct peer in retail-driven experiential design.
• FRCH Design (Cushman & Wakefield): FRCH is a Cincinnati-based retail and hospitality design firm now part of Cushman & Wakefield, focused on retail prototypes, restaurants, and mixed-use centers — directly comparable to api(+) in retail-driven experiential design.

Broad incumbents

• CallisonRTKL (Arcadis): CallisonRTKL, part of Arcadis, is a large architecture firm with a dedicated retail and experiential design practice — comparable to api(+) on retail-driven design services but operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Gensler (Retail Practice): Gensler is a global architecture and design firm with a significant retail, hospitality, and brand environment practice — comparable to api(+) at the high end of enterprise retail and mixed-use design, but with a much broader portfolio and global scale.
• FITCH (Accenture Song): FITCH, now part of Accenture Song, is a global retail and brand experience design firm serving enterprise retailers and restaurants — comparable to api(+) in retail experiential design but with much larger scale and broader digital/advertising capabilities.

Others

• Landor & Fitch: Landor & Fitch is a global branding and design firm with deep retail and restaurant brand strategy expertise — thematically comparable to api(+)'s branding and brand environment work, though primarily a brand consultancy rather than a full-service architecture studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apidesigns
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apidesigns
• Instagraminstagram.com/apiplus.design
• Facebookfacebook.com/apidesigns
• Pinterestpinterest.com/apidesigns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ArchitecturePlus International